The Marine Strategy Framework Directive Summary of Descriptor

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive Summary of Descriptor 3+ workshop Brussels, April 9 -10 th, 2013 European Commission DG Environment, D 2 Marine and Water Industry Unit

D 3+ workshop 9 -10 April, 2013 To. R State of play Follow-up of previous meeting ICES developments Further developments on D 3 Other associated Descriptors (D 1, D 4, D 6) Links to EU Biodiversity Strategy

Preliminary analysis of Descriptor 3 Criteria &indicators as defined in COM decision 0 Fishing pressure (3. 1) Fishing mortality (F) (3. 1. 1) Catch/Biomass (3. 1. 2) Reproductive Capacity (3. 2) SSB (3. 2. 1) Biomass indices (3. 2. 2) Population age & size distribution (3. 3) # fish length > mature (3. 3. 1) Mean max length research vessel (3. 3. 2) 95% percentile fish length (3. 3. 3) Size at maturation (3. 3. 4) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Use of COM decision per Marine region 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% Fishing pressure (3. 1) Fishing mortality (F) (3. 1. 1) Catch/Biomass (3. 1. 2) Reproductive Capacity (3. 2) SSB (3. 2. 1) Biomass indices (3. 2. 2) Population age & size distribution (3. 3) # fish length > mature (3. 3. 1) Mean max length research vessel (3. 3. 2) 95% percentile fish length (3. 3. 3) Size at maturation (3. 3. 4) Mediterreanean (4) North East Atlantic (10) Baltic (7) 100%

Percentage of MS which have set F and SSB at MSY levels for all stocks Fishing mortality (F) Spawning stock biomass (SSB) 0% 10% 20% all stocks at MSY 30% 40% unclear 50% 60% Not all stocks at MSY 70% 80% 90% 100%

D 3+ Workshop April 9 -10 th 2013 During the workshop a range of scientific presentations were given : ICES developments (Han Lindeboom) Latest developments on Descriptor 3 (WKLIFE II, C. O’Brien) D 3. Population age and size distribution indicative of a healthy stock (WGECO, G. Piet) Maintaining Biodiversity (D 1): choosing what you need from an overlydiverse indicator menu (WGBIO, S. Greenstreet) Developing the Food Web descriptor (D 4) – From principles to practice (WGECO & WGSAM, S. Rogers)

D 3+ Workshop Technical presentations (suite) Providing the solution to D 4 food webs; (WGECO & WGSAM, S. Rogers) D 6 Sea Floor Integrity and Fisheries under MSFD – ICES achievements in analysing fisheries data (WGSFD, H. Fock) D 6 Sea Floor Integrity – Habitat mapping (WGMHM, P. Buhl. Mortensen) Links to EU Biodiversity Strategy (Target 4) – Risk-based approach (WKLIFE II, C. O’Brien) Integrated assessment and ecosystem overviews (WKCOVER, L. Dransfeld)

Workshop Conclusions Overall n Develop recommendations for assessment of D 3 (building on work of ICES) , including, where appropriate, the application of the precautionary principle– to be presented to MSCG in 2014 n Prepare for the possibility that ICES advices the Commission directly or on behalf of the MS on the current state of GES D 3 in the marine (sub-)regions NEA and Baltic. n Contribution of ICES to WG GES on discussion / assessment of other descriptors n Discuss these elements at the next D 3+ workshop in 2014 before they are presented to WG GES and MSCG n COM intends to incorporate these developments into the 2014 work programme document

Detailed n D 1. Aim for a common set of biodiversity indicators across all Regional Seas Conventions n Review COM Decision indicators that have undeveloped reference points, or where RPs are difficult to find. n D 3 Commercial species. In the event that primary indicators F and Biomass cannot be determined, we need guidance on definition of ‘health’ to support fish size targets & thresholds. n D 4 Food Web. Apply existing protocol of LFI across regional seas including Biscay, Black Sea and Med, (and the Baltic Sea if survey data available) (N Sea and Celtic well developed). n D 6 Sea floor integrity. State indicators are still undeveloped. So need to calculate pressure indicators by habitat, using specific VMS indicators incorporating methodological issues (scale/interpolation/uncertainty/habitat recovery).

Detailed (suite) n Need to prepare standardised operational methods that allow regional coordination when indicators are prepared by MS and or RSC (e. g. by ICES or similar body) n Look for opportunities to integrate indicator development across descriptors. Aim for an optimised set of indicators, especially across D 1, D 3, D 4 and D 6, that allow indicators to contribute to multiple descriptors. n A risk based approach to the integration of D 3+D 1, D 4 and D 6 should be explored. E. g. SICA (Scale Intensity and Consequence Analysis) provides a prioritisation system n Risk Definitions (low, moderate, high), need to be agreed based on date availability.

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